Method and apparatus for service multiplexing over telephone networks which employ bridged tap construction

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for service multiplexing over telephone networks which employ bridged tap construction to allow the simultaneous delivery of different services to physically separated subscribers over a shared single pair of wires. Service is provided to one or more subscribers by connecting them to an open-circuited branch or directly with the working portion of the shared line. Service filters are used at appropriate locations in the network topology to couple or isolate the different communication channels. The wire pairs are used to simultaneously carry different services to physically separated subscribers, i.e., a portion of a common line carries one service to one location and a second service to another location. Telecommunication services are partitioned to occupy separate frequency bands in the spectrum of the transmission line using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques. The location of the terminating point for each service is different and flexible as facilitated by the use of bridged taps, service drop connections and appropriate filtering. Inverse multiplexing, a method of combining multiple physical links (e.g., telephone lines) into a single, virtual communication link, is used to increase transmission bandwidth. The simultaneous delivery of different telecommunication services over a common line to physically separated subscribers may be used in conjunction with inverse multiplexing to increase and/or vary the transmission bandwidth to individual subscribers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of datacommunications. More specifically, the present invention concerns amethod and apparatus for simultaneously delivering differentcommunication services to physically separated subscribers over asingle, shared pair of communication wires, as well as inversemultiplexing multiple physical links into a single, higher bandwidthvirtual link.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Communication systems, such as the telephone system (e.g., thePublic Switched Telephone Network or PSTN) typically employ bridgedtaps, which are open circuit cable pair segments constructed such thatmultiple branches of a single pair share a common origin. Bridged tapsare provided so that a common pair of wires can serve differentsubscribers. The common pair of wires passes more than one subscriberlocation, with each location having an access point for connecting thesubscriber's service drop wire to the common pair. Bridged taps arecommonly incorporated into telephone distribution networks in order toprovide plant flexibility for future additions, or for changes inservice demands.

[0003]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two different types of bridged tapconstructions. Shown in FIG. 1 is a tree-type topology bridged tapconstruction in which a number of cable pairs (collectively bundle 102)emanate from respective line cards at the central office 104. At point106, bridged tap 107 connects to cable pair 109. Bridged tap 107 is acable pair within bundle 108, which includes a number of cable pairs,only one of which is shown in the drawing. Bridged tap 112, which iswithin bundle 110, is shown as a continuation of cable pair 109. Similarto bundle 108, bundle 110 contains a number of cable pairs, only one ofwhich is shown (112). Connected to cable pair 112 is a drop cable whichprovides service access for subscriber 114. The topology of FIG. 1 is“tree-type” in that the bridged taps resemble interconnecting branchesof a tree. In contrast, the bridged tap construction of FIG. 2 is abus-type construction in that the distribution path from the centraloffice is a single path, with no branching paths.

[0004] Such bridged tap construction results in a cable layout havingone or more cables starting at a common origin. Each of these cables mayhave branches, and the branches may in turn have additional branches.The resulting topology is the tree-type topology having branching cableswith no closed loops. Alternatively, where there is no branching, thetopology may reduce to a bus-type topology in the case of a single cablewith one or more subscribers attached to the shared common line.

[0005] A class of digital subscriber line transmission methods (e.g.,ADSL, VDSL) use a single pair of wires to provide both narrowband andbroadband services to a subscriber using frequency divisionmultiplexing. This is illustrated in FIG. 3. At the network side of theline, narrowband and broadband services are coupled onto the line at thesame location (e.g., at the central office or at a remotely locatedservice node). Specifically, narrowband services are coupled via linecard 120, while broadband services are coupled via ADSL modem 122. Thenarrowband and broadband services are coupled onto cable pair 112 withinbundle 102 via respective service filters 124 and 126. Alternatively,the narrowband and broadband services may be coupled onto the line atdifferent locations on the network side of the line (e.g., Plain OldTelephone Service POTS coupled onto the line at the central office andADSL coupled onto the line at a remotely located service node).

[0006] At the subscriber side of the line, the services are separated atthe end of the drop at the customer premises 128 using respectiveservice filters 130 and 132. The service filters used in combining andseparating services may be such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,627,501 and 5,528,630, the contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference. For example, a filter may be located at the end of thedrop wire which couples the telephone service onto the existingin-premises telephone wiring and isolates the broadband service from thetelephone wire pairs. Alternatively. the two service filters 130, 132 atthe customer premises 128 may be combined into one apparatus, forexample, a POTS-type splitter. A metallic wire pair has informationcarrying capacity (bandwidth) available in the unused frequency spectrumof the channel. In the case of a POTS line, the frequency spectrum from0-4 kHz may be used for POTS, while the upper portion may be used forISDN, ADSL or VDSL.

[0007] The number of metallic wire pairs in adequate condition may beinsufficient to support full market deployment of broadband servicesusing the existing telephone network infrastructure, because certainlimitations exist on the number and quality of wire pairs in thedistribution cables. The number of wire pairs that pass each premises isusually limited. For example, in the case of residential premises, thenumber of wire pairs that pass the premises is typically two pairs. witha minimum of one and a maximum of about five pairs. It is estimated thatthe number of pairs available may be insufficient to meet the demand forservices.

[0008] Several aspects of the existing telephone network infrastructurelimit the information carrying capacity (bandwidth or bit rate) of theindividual lines. These factors include: (1) the type of cables and theuse of bridged taps; (2) the condition of the plant; and (3) the noisepicked up by the network. Also, a reduction in capacity may result fromrestricted use of particular frequency bands (e.g., amateur radio bands)because of potential radio frequency interference. These factors willreduce either the usable bandwidth available for broadband service (bitrate) or the length of the working line (reach).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention allows the simultaneous delivery ofdifferent services to physically separated subscribers over a sharedsingle pair of wires. Service is provided to one or more subscribers byconnecting them to an open-circuited branch or directly with the workingportion of the shared line. Service filters are used at appropriatelocations in the network topology to couple or isolate the differentcommunication channels. The wire pairs are used to simultaneously carrydifferent services to physically separated subscribers, i.e., a portionof a common line carries one service to one location and a secondservice to another location. Telecommunication services are partitionedto occupy separate frequency bands in the spectrum of the transmissionline using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques. Thelocation of the terminating point for each service is different andflexible as facilitated by the use of bridged taps, service dropconnections and appropriate filtering.

[0010] Inverse multiplexing is a method of combining multiple physicallinks (e.g., telephone lines) into a single, virtual communication linkwith increased transmission bandwidth. For example, three T1 lines eachhaving a capacity of 1.544 Mbps may be multiplexed to provide anaggregate capacity of 4.6 Mbps between two telephone offices. Similarly,other types of services may be multiplexed, such as ADSL or VDSL.

[0011] The simultaneous delivery of different telecommunication servicesover a common line to physically separated subscribers may be used inconjunction with inverse multiplexing to increase and/or vary thetransmission bandwidth to individual subscribers.

[0012] The present invention leverages existing bridged tap constructionto free up additional wire pairs in the distribution cable for servicedelivery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention discussedin the above brief explanation will be more clearly understood whentaken together with the following detailed description of an embodimentwhich will be understood as being illustrative only, and theaccompanying drawings reflecting aspects of that embodiment, in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is an illustration of telephone network wiringincorporating a tree and branch topology bridged tap;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an illustration of telephone network wiringincorporating a bus topology bridged tap;

[0016]FIG. 3 is an illustration of telephone network wiringincorporating service filters;

[0017]FIG. 4 is an illustration of telephone network wiringincorporating service multiplexing over a bus topology bridged tap;

[0018]FIG. 5 is an illustration of telephone network wiringincorporating service multiplexing over a tree and branch topologybridged tap;

[0019]FIG. 6 is an illustration of service multiplexing of frequencydivision multiplexed signals;

[0020]FIG. 7 is an illustration of inverse multiplexing;

[0021]FIG. 8 is an illustration of telephone network wiringincorporating inverse multiplexing of frequency division multiplexedsignals; and

[0022]FIG. 9 is an illustration of inverse multiplexing combined withservice multiplexing of frequency division multiplexed signals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the simultaneous deliveryof different services to physically separated subscribers over a sharedsingle pair of wires in a bus-type network topology. At the network sideof the line, narrowband and broadband services via line card 120 andADSL modem 122. respectively, are coupled onto a wire pair (112) withinbundle 102. While the broadband service is illustrated in this exampleas being an ADSL modem, it should be understood that other types ofservices may be used, such as, for example, VDSL. The narrowband servicemay be POTS service. The coupling of the different services isaccomplished using service filters 124 and 126 which act to insert aninformation signal into and/or extract a received information signalfrom a particular frequency band. The service filters prevent thedifferent frequency band signals from interfering with each other. Suchcouplers are well known in the art and typically utilize some form oftransformer coupling along with variable impedances in the differentfrequency ranges to selectively transmit (or impede the transmission of)signals in different portions of the frequency spectrum. Specificreference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,528,630 and 5,627,501 fordetails regarding exemplary service filters.

[0024] The narrowband service is ultimately delivered to customerpremises 140. while the broadband service is delivered to a differentcustomer premises 142. At the customer side, drop cables 144 and 146 areconnected between wire pair 112 and the customer premises 140 and 142,respectively. Drop cable 144 is connected to customer premises 140 viaservice filter 148. Similarly. drop cable 146 is connected to customerpremises 142 via service filter 150. The service filters 148, 150 may belocated at the point connecting the drop cables to the distributioncable (110), or between the end of the drop cable and the in-premiseswiring at each of the customer premises 140, 142, or they may beconnected as part of the in-premises wiring. Service filter 148 preventsthe broadband signal from interfering with the signal and equipment atcustomer premises 140. Similarly, service filter 150 prevents thenarrowband signal from interfering with the signal and equipment locatedat customer premises 142.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the simultaneous deliveryof different services to physically separated subscribers over a sharedsingle pair of wires, similar to FIG. 4. However, in FIG. 5, thecommunication services are delivered over a tree and branch topology.One of the main distinctions between the topology of FIG. 5 and that ofFIG. 4, is that in FIG. 5 the drop cable (144) is connected betweencable bundle 170 and customer premises 140. Cable bundle 170 is itself abridged tap emanating from cable bundle 102, and drop cable 144 isconnected to wire pair 172 within cable bundle 170. Drop cable 146 issimilarly connected between wire pair 162 of bridged tap 160 andcustomer premises 142. Essentially, in the tree and branch topology ofFIG. 5, one branch of the distribution network (bridged tap 170)provides customer premises 140 with narrowband service, while a secondbranch (bridged tap 160) provides customer premises 142 with broadbandservice.

[0026] A general model for “n” services, i.e., the distribution of “n”services to different customer premises, is illustrated in FIG. 6. Asshown in FIG. 6, there are “n” service filters 180 (SF-1, SF-2, . . .SF-n) connected to a common wire pair at the feeder side (centraloffice) of the network, and “n” service filters 182 (SF-1, SF-2, . . .SF-n) connected to the same common wire pair at the customer premisesside of the network. Different services, such as POTS, ISDN (IntegratedServices Digital Network) and ADSL are generated and received at servicetransceivers located at the feeder side (190) and customer premises side(192) of the network. The service transceivers are denoted “TXRX-n” or“xDSL-n”, the latter indicating the applicable class of digitalsubscriber line. The term “xDSL” includes ADSL, VDSL and other DSL(digital subscriber line) which utilize the frequency spectrum above thestandard POTS voice channel, i.e., above 4 kHz. In the example shown inFIG. 6, there are “n” transceivers 190 on the feeder side of thenetwork, and “n” transceivers 192 on the customer premises side of thenetwork. For each communication service being provided, there is onetransceiver 190 supporting that service at the feeder side of thenetwork and one transceiver 192 supporting the service at the customerpremises side of the network.

[0027] The equipment connected to the feeder network (e.g., servicefilters 180, transceivers 190) may be located at the central office orat locations remote from the central office. The equipment connected tothe customer premises (e.g., service filters 182, transceivers 192) isflexible in relation to the drop cable and premises wiring for thatparticular customer premises. However, each service filter 182 andtransceiver 192 is dedicated to a single communication service beingdelivered to that customer premises.

[0028] According to the present invention. inverse multiplexing may beused in conjunction with frequency division multiplexing employingservice filters, as described above, to increase the transmissionbandwidth to a particular customer premises. Inverse multiplexing refersto the capability to combine multiple physical links (e.g., multipletelephone lines) into a single virtual link. An example of inversemultiplexing is shown in FIG. 7 where three T1lines (202, 204, 206),each having a bandwidth of 1.544 Mbps are used to deliver approximately4.6 Mbps full-duplex communication over a virtual link. In this mannerinverse multiplexing may be used to combine the service capacity of twoor more digital subscriber lines.

[0029] A specific application of the concept shown in FIG. 7 is shown inFIG. 8, whereby broadband service is delivered over two xDSLs to acustomer premises at one location, while narrowband (standard telephoneservice) is delivered to a different customer premises at a differentlocation. Referring now to FIG. 8, a multiplexer 210 is located at thecentral office side of the network wiring and is connected to anaggregate “virtual” link on one side and to two xDSL modems 212, 214 onthe other side. The signals through xDSL modems 212,214 are isolated viaservice filters 216, 218 and then connected to wire bundle 224. Also atthe central office side of the network wiring, narrowband service may beprovided via line card 220 and service filter 222 connected to wiringbundle 224. According to the present invention, the narrowband signal(via service filter 222) and an xDSL signal (via service filter 218) areconnected to the same wire pair 228 within bundle 224. An additionalxDSL signal (via service filter 216) is connected to wire pair 229within bundle 224. The signals travel through wire bundle 224 ontobridged tap 226 which is located at the customer side of the networkwiring.

[0030] At the customer side of the network wiring, a drop cable (230)connects from the wiring pair 228 to a first customer premises 234 inorder to deliver the narrowband service to customer premises 234.Connected between drop cable 230 and customer premises 234 is a servicefilter 232 which is used to isolate the signal being delivered tocustomer premises 234.

[0031] Similarly, drop cables 236 and 238 connect from the wiring pairs229 and 228, respectively, to a second customer premises 244 in order todeliver the xDSL (or other broadband) signals on those wire pairs tocustomer premises 244. Each of the drop cables 236, 238 is connected toa respective service filter 240, 242 for signal isolation. From theservice filters 240, 242, the broadband signals pass through respectivemodems 246, 248 and onto a multiplexer 250 which presents at its outputan aggregate “virtual” link at customer premises 244. In this way,narrowband service is delivered to a first customer location andbroadband service as an aggregate “virtual” link is delivered to adifferent customer location, using the same wiring pair.

[0032] In the example shown in FIG. 8, the various service filters maybe located at the point connecting the drop cable to the bundle, orbetween the end of the drop cable and the in-premises (customer) wiring,or as part of the in-premises wiring. In the preferred embodimentaccording to the present invention for inverse multiplexing xDSLservice, the service filters are located between the end of the dropcable and the building (customer) wiring. Also, the xDSL modem andmultiplexing functions may be implemented using the same networkapparatus. At the central office side of the network wiring, the xDSLmodem/multiplexer may be located at the central office or at locationsremote from the central office. At the premises side of the networkwiring, the xDSL modem/multiplexer may be located at the end of the dropcable, typically at the customer premises itself.

[0033] In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, if each xDSL carries 1Mbpsto customer premises 244, then the aggregate virtual link capacity tothe customer premises is approximately 2 Mbps. Of course, more than twoxDSL signals may be multiplexed into an aggregate virtual link,depending on the particular system requirements and needs.

[0034]FIG. 9 illustrates a general model for “n” services, i.e., thedistribution of “n” services to different customer premises, similar tothat illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0035] However, in FIG. 9, some of the services utilize the principle ofinverse multiplexing set out above. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, aservice or signal 300 at the feeder or central office side of thenetwork wiring may in fact represent an aggregate virtual link of “m”different xDSL signals which is delivered to a customer premises asfollows. First, a multiplexer 302 separates the aggregate signal 300 forhandling by “m” separate xDSL modems 304 (designated xDSL1-I throughxDSL1-m). Each xDSL modem 304 is connected to a respective servicefilter 306 (designated SF1-1 through SF1-m) for signal isolation. Thesignals from the service filters 306 are transmitted in much the samefashion as discussed above in connection with FIG. 6 and FIG. 8.

[0036] At the customer premises side of the network wiring, servicefilters 322 (designated SF1-1 through SF1-m) direct the individual xDSLsignal streams to respective xDSL modems 324 (designated xDSL1 -1through xDSL1-m) for processing.

[0037] The signals are then provided to a multiplexer 326 which outputsan aggregate virtual signal 328 to the customer premises.

[0038] In the composite model of FIG. 9, a service may use one or moredigital transmission lines (xDSL) for inverse multiplexing. There are“n” such services in the example of FIG. 9, with each service havinganywhere from 1 to “m” transceivers on each side of the network wiring(i.e., the central office side and the customer premises side) totransmit and receive signals on each line. The transceivers may be xDSLmodems, ISDN modems, telephone line codecs, or any device used forproviding a service over a metallic wire pair. Similar to FIG. 6, thetransceivers are denoted either as TXRX-n or xDSL-n, the latterindicating the applicable class of digital subscriber lines. For eachservice, there are also 1 to “m” service filters on each side of thenetwork wiring in order to isolate the service from other services thatmay share the same line.

[0039] While the invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of delivering different communicationservices over a single communication path to different premises,comprising the following steps: coupling a first communication serviceonto a communication path for transmission using a first service filter;coupling a second communication service onto said communication path fortransmission using a second service filter; transmitting said first andsecond communication services over said communication path; decouplingsaid first communication service from said communication path using athird service filter and delivering said first communication service toa first premises; decoupling said second communication service from saidcommunication path using a fourth service filter and delivering saidsecond communication service to a second premises; wherein said firstpremises is different from said second premises.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein said first communication service is a narrowband service andsaid second communication service is a broadband service.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein said narrowband service includes POTS service andsaid broadband service includes xDSL service.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein said decoupling of said first communication service includes theuse of a first drop cable connected between said communication path andsaid first customer premises, and said decoupling of said secondcommunication service includes the use of a second drop cable connectedbetween said communication path and said second premises.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein said communication path comprises a metallic wirepair.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said servicefilters is located at one of said premises.
 7. The method of claim 4,wherein at least one of said service filters is located between saidcommunication path and one of said drop cables.
 8. A method ofdelivering different communication services over a single communicationpath to different premises, comprising the following steps: coupling afirst communication service onto a communication path for transmissionusing a first service filter; coupling a second communication serviceonto said communication path for transmission using a second servicefilter; transmitting said first and second communication services oversaid communication path; further transmitting said first communicationservice using a bridged tap communication path connected to saidcommunication path. decoupling said first communication service fromsaid bridged tap communication path using a third service filter anddelivering said first communication service to a first premises;decoupling said second communication service from said communicationpath using a fourth service filter and delivering said secondcommunication service to a second premises; wherein said first premisesis different from said second premises.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein one of said first and second communication services is anarrowband service and the other of said first and second communicationservices is a broadband service.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein saidnarrowband service includes POTS service and said broadband serviceincludes xDSL service.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein saiddecoupling of said first communication service includes the use of afirst drop cable connected between said bridged tap communication patand said first customer premises, and said decoupling of said secondcommunication service includes the use of a second drop cable connectedbetween said communication path and said second premises.
 12. The methodof claim 8, wherein said communication path and said bridged tapcommunication path each comprise a metallic wire pair.
 13. The method ofclaim 8, herein at least one of said service filters is located at oneof said premises.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one ofsaid service filters is located between said communication path and oneof said drop cables.
 15. A method of delivering different communicationservices over a single communication path to different premises whereleast one of the communication services is an aggregate virtual link ofindividual communication services, comprising the following steps:coupling a first communication service onto a first communication pathfor transmission using a first service filter; multiplexing an aggregatevirtual link communication service into a plurality of individualcommunication services; coupling a first of said plurality of individualcommunication services onto said first communication path fortransmission using a second service filter; coupling a second of saidplurality of individual communication services onto a secondcommunication path for transmission using a third service filter;transmitting said first communication service and said individualcommunication services using said first and second communication paths;decoupling said first communication service from said firstcommunication path using a fourth service filter and delivering saidfirst communication service to a first premises; decoupling said firstand said second of said plurality of individual communication servicesfrom said first second communication paths, respectively, using a fifthand a sixth service filter; multiplexing said first and said second ofsaid plurality of individual communication services into a reconstructedaggregate virtual link communication service and delivering saidreconstructed aggregate virtual link communication service to a secondpremises; wherein said first premises is different from said secondpremises.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first communicationservice is a narrowband service and said aggregate virtual linkcommunication service is a broadband service.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein said narrowband service includes POTS service and saidbroadband service includes a plurality of xDSL links.
 18. The method ofclaim 15, wherein said decoupling of said first communication serviceincludes the use of a first drop cable connected between said firstcommunication path and said first customer premises, and said decouplingof said first and said second of said plurality of individualcommunication services includes the use of respective drop cablesconnected between said first and said second communication pats on theone hand and said second premises on the other hand.
 19. The method ofclaim 15, wherein at least one of said communication paths comprises ametallic wire pair.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one ofsaid service filters is located at one of said premises.
 21. The methodof claim 18, wherein at least one of said service filters is locatedbetween one of said communication paths and one of said drop cables. 22.A communication system which delivers different communication servicesover a single communication path to different premises, comprising: afirst service filter for coupling a first communication service onto acommunication path for transmission; a second service filter forcoupling a second communication service onto said communication path fortransmission; a third service filter for decoupling said firstcommunication service from said communication path, subsequent totransmission over said communication path, and for delivering said firstcommunication service to a first premises; a fourth service filter fordecoupling said second communication service from said communicationpath, subsequent to transmission over said communication path, and fordelivering said second communication service to a second premises;wherein said first premises is different from said second premises. 23.The system of claim 22, wherein said first communication service is anarrowband service and said second communication service is a broadbandservice.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said narrowband serviceincludes POTS service and said broadband service includes xDSL service.25. The system of claim 22, wherein said decoupling of said firstcommunication service includes the use of a first drop cable connectedbetween said communication path and said first customer premises, andsaid decoupling of said second communication service includes the se ofa second drop cable connected between said communication path and saidsecond premises.
 26. The system of claim 22, wherein said communicationpath comprises a metallic wire pair.
 27. The system of claim 22, whereinat least one of said service filters is located at one of said premises.28. The system of claim 25, wherein at least one of said service filtersis located between said communication path and one of said drop cables.29. A communication system which delivers different communicationservices over a single communication path to different premises,comprising: a first service filter for coupling a first communicationservice onto a communication path for transmission over saidcommunication path; a second service filter for coupling a secondcommunication service onto said communication path for transmission oversaid communication path; a bridged tap communication path connected tosaid communication path for further transmitting said firstcommunication service; a third service filter for decoupling said firstcommunication service from said bridged tap communication path anddelivering said first communication service to a first premises; afourth service filter for decoupling said second communication servicefrom said communication path and delivering said second communicationservice to a second premises; wherein said first premises is differentfrom said second premises.
 30. The system of claim 29, wherein one ofsaid first and second communication services is a narrowband service andthe other of said first and second communication services is a broadbandservice.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein said narrowband serviceincludes POTS service and said broadband service includes xDSL service.32. The system of claim 29, wherein said decoupling of said firstcommunication service includes the use of a first drop cable connectedbetween said bridged tap communication path and said first customerpremises, and said decoupling of said second communication serviceincludes the use of a second drop cable connected between saidcommunication path and said second premises.
 33. The system of claim 29,wherein said communication path and said bridged tap communication patheach comprise a metallic wire pair.
 34. The system of claim
 29. whereinat least one of said service filters is located at one of said premises.35. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of said service filtersis located between aid communication path and one of said drop cables.36. A system for delivering different communication services over asingle communication path to different premises where at least one ofthe communication services is an aggregate virtual link of individualcommunication services, comprising: a first service filter for couplinga first communication service onto a first communication path fortransmission; a first multiplexer for multiplexing an aggregate virtuallink communication service into a plurality of individual communicationservices; a second service filter coupling a first of said plurality ofindividual communication services onto said first communication path fortransmission; a third service filter for coupling a second of saidplurality of individual communication services onto a secondcommunication path for transmission; transmitting said firstcommunication service and said individual communication services usingsaid first and second communication paths; a fourth service filter fordecoupling said first communication service from said firstcommunication path, subsequent to transmission, and for delivering saidfirst communication service to a first premises; a fifth and a sixthservice filter for decoupling said first and said second of saidplurality of individual communication services, respectively, from saidfirst and second communication paths, subsequent to transmission; asecond multiplexer for multiplexing said first and said second of saidplurality of individual communication services into a reconstructedaggregate virtual link communication service and delivering saidreconstructed aggregate virtual link communication service to a secondpremises; wherein said first premises is different from said secondpremises.
 37. The system of claim 36, wherein said first communicationservice is a narrowband service and said aggregate virtual linkcommunication service is a broadband service.
 38. The system of claim37, wherein said narrowband service includes POTS service and saidbroadband service includes a plurality of xDSL links.
 39. The system ofclaim 36, wherein said decoupling of said first communication serviceincludes the use of a first drop cable connected between said firstcommunication path and said first customer premises, and said decouplingof said first and said second of said plurality of individualcommunication services includes the use of respective drop cablesconnected between said first and said second communication paths on theone hand and said second premises on the other hand.
 40. The system ofclaim 36, wherein at least one of said communication paths comprises ametallic wire pair.
 41. The system of claim 36, wherein a least one ofsaid service filters is located at one of said premises.
 42. The systemof claim 39, wherein at least one of said service filters is locatedbetween communication paths and one of said drop cables.